Infiltrator is a third person shooter in the works at Iron Monkey Studios, which made the critically-acclaimed Dead Space iOS. Players are on a mission to free prisoners from a “hostile Cerberus base” and investigate the group’s crimes.

In classic Mass Effect fashion, actions taken in Infiltrator will affect the plot in the upcoming Mass Effect 3 by way of the Galaxy at War system. Your accomplishments in the iOS game will contribute to that system’s “Galactic Readiness rating.” Playing the game also unlocks weapons in ME3.

Mass Effect Datapad, on the other hand, has no details yet. Based on the name, it’s a reasonable guess that EA is working up a companion app for the major game, ME3. It’s easy to envision an in-game encyclopedia to keep track of the universe or a tactical assistant to come in handy while in combat mode. Datapad will be an iPad exclusive.

Mass Effect Infiltrator is due out “soon” – expect it somewhere around the release of ME3.

Some have complained about the apps and programs, saying that they “squeeze” customers. While that possibility exists for the future, for now I disagree with that observation. So far it’s a good way for the truly hardcore to get more into their game of choice, and publishers who are scared of losing money to used game sales can make more money from those really hardcore fans.